controlled hunting access program

(CHAP) Guidelines at a Glance

SD GFP, Wildlife Division, Wildlife Partners Program

Goals:

Achieve optimum big game (including turkey) hunter access to and recreational use of specific private lands for hunting by controlling the amount of hunter use at a given time.

Allow for special provisions for uses unique to the CHAP tract such as restrictions on hunted species or game retrieval;

CHAP guidelines:

Enrollment and payment details:

Landowners with 1,000 or more acres receive an enrollment payment of $250 flat base payment plus $6/hunter-day for each hunter day of use. In addition, landowners are eligible for bonus payments per hunter day.

Landowners with under 1,000 acre receive $6/hunter-day of use. In addition,landowners are eligible for bonus payment per hunter day.

Types of bonuses include:

$2/hunter-day if there is no big game species restriction;

$2/hunter-day if the enrolled acreage is open to all legal big game hunting seasons and lawful methods of take for the entire season length;

Minimum payment of $250 and maximum payment of $12,000.

Immediate members of the Cooperator's family are not eligible to becredited toward the hunter days used to calculate payment for theCooperator's CHAP.

Payment will be made in February following the hunting season.

Cooperator must be legally able (through ownership or rental agreement that includes hunting privileges) to enroll offered land in CHAP.

Cooperator manages hunter permission slips in two ways:
- Self-serve sign-up boxes or on-line reservations are provided for hunters to check-in and obtain a permission slip or check in at the ranch/farm headquarters.
- A cooperator can decide whether or not to allow advance reservations.

Hunter use:

Hunters are required to check in and obtain a permission slip on a first-come, first serve basis before hunting. Hunters without a permission slip will be hunting without landowner permission and could be cited for trespass. When all permission slips are assigned for a particular day, then no more permission slips will be administered.